Kathryn Wirkus (right) and Denise Hand, both members of the "Snoopy Squadron," pose by the sign in front of their dorm during the first week of Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in July of 1978. The sign has a picture of...

Air Force members (l to r) Kathryn Wirkus, Kay Hansen, and Kathy Jackson are pictured in their newly-received fatigues during Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in July of 1978. Wirkus uses masking tape for her nametag...

Members of the Fifth Squadron pose together at their commissioning ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1978. Pictured are (L to R) David Pace, Stephen Kaumans, Kathryn Wirkus, Bill Black, and Steve Torrence.

Kathryn Wirkus and her childhood friend, Technical Sergeant Ed Edwards, salute each other following Wirkus' commissioning ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1978. Edwards earned the traditional reward of a silver dollar for being the...

Colonel Alain Boughton, the wing commander; Kathryn Wirkus; reviewing officer Major General Robert Malloy; and Bill Black pose on the tarmac at Lackland Air Force Base after the final parade and commissioning ceremony of Officer Training School in...

Kathryn Wirkus talks to a Saudi Arabian officer candidate who was completing pilot training in the U.S., following her commissioning ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1978. Wirkus wears the air force service dress uniform, while the...

Kathryn Wirkus poses in her dorm room in her newly-issued "blues" service dress uniform during Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in July of 1978. She wears the designator of the Chapel Representative on her shoulder boards.

The entire Fifth Squadron of Officer Candidate School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, poses for a group photo on their commissioning day before taking the oath of office, in 1978. They still wear the OTS shoulder boards on their service dress...

The Fifth Squadron toss their hats at the end of the parade to celebrate their graduation from Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in 1978. Behind them, several units still in formation can be seen.

Kathryn Wirkus, in her air force service dress uniform, poses beside her new car at her parent's home in Miami. The photo was taken just before she left for her first duty assignment at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in April of 1979.

Kathryn Wirkus poses with then-boyfriend Captain Alan Livingston at a formal dinner dance at Beale Air Force Base, California, where he was stationed, in March of 1980. Both wear the air force mess dress uniform.

Kathryn Wirkus poses in the air force new style blue mess dress uniform outside her home while stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, in October of 1989. She wears captains' silver bars on her shoulder boards.

Lt. Colonel Kathryn Wirkus (right) holds her citation for the Air Force Meritorious Service medal, presented to her Colonel Patricia Quisenberry (left) during Wirkus' retirement, circa 2005. Both women wear the air force service dress uniform....

Colonel Patricia Quisenberry presents Lieutenant Colonel Kathryn Wirkus with a present at Wirkus' retirement ceremony, circa 2005. In the box are items from her twenty-seven years in the air force such as various squadron patches, service medals,...

Kathryn Wirkus poses in her newly-received service dress uniform, holding her beret, during Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in July of 1978. She has the Chapel Representative designator on her OTS shoulder boards. Wirkus stands...